Home / Mafia / Mafia's Nemesis / Chapter 25: ๐•ด'๐–’ ๐•ณ๐–Š๐–—๐–Š ๐•ฟ๐–” ๐•ฌ๐–‡๐–‰๐–š๐–ˆ๐–™ ๐–„๐–”๐–š....

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Chapter 25: ๐•ด'๐–’ ๐•ณ๐–Š๐–—๐–Š ๐•ฟ๐–” ๐•ฌ๐–‡๐–‰๐–š๐–ˆ๐–™ ๐–„๐–”๐–š....

last update publish date: 2025-06-10 02:11:12

๐•ธ๐–†๐–‹๐–Ž๐–†'๐–˜ ๐•น๐–Š๐–’๐–Š๐–˜๐–Ž๐–˜

โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†

โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†๐•น๐–Š๐–›๐–Š๐–“๐–†โ€™๐–˜ ๐•ฒ๐–š๐–Š๐–˜๐–™๐–๐–”๐–š๐–˜๐–Š 11:35๐–•๐–’โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†

She lay on her back, a limp figure atop the plain bed with her legs tangled in the sheets.

The room was dim, lit by the dying amber light slipping through the cracked curtains.

The fan spins slowly above her, humming through the heavy air.

The mattress dipped beneath her weight. Her marigold hair spread across the pillow like flame, a tangle of weariness and wildfire.

Her eyes were open but unfocused, staring into the ceiling.

She hadnโ€™t even bothered to change out of her clothes. Her thoughts? Unruly.

All she could think about was Juniorโ€™s request.

> โ€œSneak me out of hereโ€ฆโ€

Her conscience pulsed in sync with the ticking wall clock. Juniorโ€™s words had wedged themselves deep, refusing to leave.

โ€œThat's reckless,โ€ she murmured to the ceiling.

Her voice was hoarse, caught somewhere between a laugh and a confession.

โ€œI'm literally dying... and He thinks I'm some superhero.โ€

She rolled onto her side, covering her face with her palm, groaning into the quiet.

โ€œStop messing with my headโ€”what if I get caughtโ€

โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†๐Ÿฉธ๐•ฑ๐–‘๐–†๐–˜๐– ๐–‡๐–†๐–ˆ๐–: ๐–†๐–™ ๐–™๐–๐–Š ๐–๐–”๐–˜๐–•๐–Ž๐–™๐–†๐–‘๐Ÿฉธโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†

She had said noโ€”not harshly. But she had seen itโ€ฆ

The way his face had dropped, the light dimmed, like a candle caught in a sudden gust.

โ€œI get it,โ€ he had said, pretending not to care, but he didโ€”he looked like sheโ€™d kicked him.

The weight of that moment had pressed into her ribcage like a dull stone but it was the right thing to do.

โ€œJuniorโ€”I don't mean to disappoint you, but the right thing isโ€”.โ€ She tried to make him see reasons

โ€œI totally understand Missโ€”maybe I hoped too hard.โ€ He interjected with a small smile. โ€œIf you would excuse me....I will head in for the nightโ€.

He rolled away in his wheelchair, leaving her behind.

Nevena inhaledโ€”sharply. Her chest burning from how long sheโ€™d been holding her breath without realizing.

Her mind circled the thought like a hawk in a storm.

The shadow behind his words โ€” the tired and disappointed face he wore to bed.

Itโ€™s wrong, she told herself, again and again.

He was a minor and She isnโ€™t his guardian.

No signatures, no approvals. No clean way to justify taking him.

Not even to herself. What kind of adult would even consider it?.

โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†๐Ÿฉธ๐Ÿฉธ๐–•๐–—๐–Š๐–˜๐–Š๐–“๐–™๐Ÿฉธ๐Ÿฉธโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†

โ€œI definitely did the right thingโ€ , she whispered to herself.

โ€œI am sick, and have no reserved energy for the aftermath charadeโ€”moreover heโ€™s not my responsibility.โ€

She clutched the thin blanket close, covering herself.

Yawning, she closed her eyes to sleep, but the wall clock ticked. Each second longer than the last, making it chip at her resolve.

The thought of him still there, still waiting, slumped in his hospital roomโ€”like furniture no one wanted, haunted her like an old lullaby singing off-key.

โ€œะะฐะธัั‚ะธะฝะฐ ะปะธ ั‰ะต ะปะตะถะธัˆ ั‚ัƒะบ, ะฟะพั‡ะธะฒะฐะนะบะธ ัะธ ะฒ ัƒะดะพะฑัั‚ะฒะพั‚ะพ ะฝะฐ โ€žะฝะธั‰ะพ ะฝะต ะฟั€ะฐะฒะตะฝะตโ€œ? {Are you really going to lie here, resting in the comfort of doing โ€œnothingโ€?}โ€ her rational voice barked in her language.

โ€œะขะพะฒะฐ ะฝะต ะต ะผะพะน ะฟั€ะพะฑะปะตะผ

{Itโ€™s not my problem},โ€ she said into the dark.

As she said it, guilt itched like a rash on her ribs.

> โ€œHeโ€™s not your problem,โ€ the voice continued. โ€œBut werenโ€™t you sometime in the past wishing to become someoneโ€™s problem?โ€

Her fingers curled into a weak fist, โ€œะœะพะถะตัˆ ะปะธ ะฟั€ะพัั‚ะพ ะดะฐ ะผะต ะพัั‚ะฐะฒะธัˆ?

{Can you just leave me?}โ€”this is totally different. Sneaking out a child is illegal.โ€

โ€œLeaving a kid waiting after days of discharge isn't clean either?โ€ The voice countered with a loud echo in her head.

She clicked her tongue and turned on her side, wincing.

โ€œI'm not ready for any chaos.... saying no doesnโ€™t make me a bad personโ€”I'm only staying away from legal charges.โ€

โ€œMaybe this isnโ€™t about what's legal or not. It's about what's right for himโ€”doing nothing will eventually hurts him moreโ€”โ€

โ€œะะผะธ ะฐะบะพ ั‚ะพะฒะฐ ะต ะตะดะธะฝัั‚ะฒะตะฝะธัั‚ ะผัƒ ัˆะฐะฝั ะดะฐ ััŠะฑะธั€ะฐ ะผะธะดะธ {What if this is the only chance he has to go shell hunting?}โ€ the voice was soothing and quieter this time.

Nevena made to turn deaf ear but her hands trembled slightly as she pulled her knees closer.

โ€œIt could be you, years ago? Wouldnโ€™t you wish someone would break the rules and rescue you?โ€ the voice added and went calm.

Nevena rolled onto the other side, she was glad the voice was gone but then,

The quietness of the room only made the storm in her chest louder.

Sheโ€™d seen too much of herself in that kid. The silence and detachment.

But then Alexandria had broken the rules for her? And that momentโ€”however recklessโ€”changed everything

Her fingers dug into the sheets. She was angryโ€”not at Junior, but at the world that made kids like them learn to ask for escape.

He hadnโ€™t asked for muchโ€”just a taste of freedom. A shellโ€”a memory, a friend.

Ironicallyโ€”for once, someone needed her. Not as a pawn. Not as a statistic, but as a friend.

And she had said no.

โ€œStupidโ€ she swore at herself.

Her fingers ran through her hair, curling into a fist near the roots.

The ceiling fan groaned above her, like it agreed.

The way he hesitated before asking for help, and how desperate he was when he finally did.

It was only a person with bruises in places nobody could see, could do that.

Her arm slid over her eyes. She wasnโ€™t crying. Justโ€ฆ tired.

>โ€œWhat if he falls into the hands of Alexandria's type, who play along for their own benefitsโ€ a stray thought hit her head.

โ€œI can't let that happenโ€. Her breath hitched.

She knew too well how easily trust could be weaponized. Alexandria had taught her that.

He had played her to the point of her, giving out her kidney to him.

She turned her face to the nightstand, eyes landing on the appointment schedule.

Slowly she sat up, pressing a palm to her side as pain reminded her she was no hero.

But she could be a friend. One stupid, rebellious adult.

โ€œGod help me,โ€ she muttered, standingโ€”abruptly, barefoot. Her legs shaky, her heart steadier.

Her hand reached for the key on the dresser, then paused.

Her reflection stared back at her in the mirror. Paleโ€”sick, yes.

But alive.

โ€œI can't believe I'm doing this.โ€ she sighed.

She hadnโ€™t meant to get attached with their encounter, but the reverse was the case now.

For the first time in a long whileโ€”after her break-up with Alexandriaโ€ฆ

She wanted to live for someone other than herself.

With another deep exhalation, she grabbed her hoodie and whispered to her reflection:

โ€œAlright, Junior. Letโ€™s go find some damn shells.โ€

Outside, the wind picked up the dark atmosphere.

'Abduction' as she termed it, and shell hunting adventure was a stupid idea, but maybe it was the kind of stupid that gets someone saved.

โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†๐•ธ๐–†๐–›๐–Š๐–—๐–Ž๐–ˆ๐– ๐•ณ๐–”๐–˜๐–•๐–Ž๐–™๐–†๐–‘ 12:15๐–†๐–’โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†

โ€œThis is stupid,โ€ Nevena whispered, but she didnโ€™t stop.

Her lungs ached with every breath, her fear reminding her she wasnโ€™t built for rebellionโ€”not anymore.

But still, she moved.

The hospital's stairwell was dim, echoing with the occasional drip from some unseen pipe.

She paused at the second floor landing, fingers tightening around the railing as a fresh wave of fear stitched across her body.

โ€œThird floor. Pediatrics.โ€ she reminded herself.

When she reached Juniorโ€™s floor, she hesitated outside his room, eyes darting once down the hall. All clear.

The door was slightly ajar, and she eased it further.

Inside, he was awakeโ€”sitting up. The light above his bed was dimmed, painting his face in soft blue shadows.

His head turned when the door creaked open.

โ€œโ€ฆMiss Nevena?โ€

Standing in the doorway like a shadow from a dream, hood up, eyes bright with mischief and fear.

โ€œShhh.โ€ She pressed a finger to her lips, moving toward him with soft, clumsy steps. โ€œGet your thingsโ€”I'm here to abduct you.โ€

For a moment, Junior didnโ€™t move. He just blinked at her, stunned, mouth parted in disbelief.

โ€œYou serious?โ€

โ€œNoโ€”yesโ€ she stuttered, in more of a whisper.

โ€œCome on, I'm delusional from fever and guilt. Letโ€™s go before I regret this.โ€

Junior's sat up slowly, as if afraid it was his imagination. โ€œYouโ€™re really doing it.โ€

โ€œYou want a signed contract?โ€ she muttered, wincing. "Or we say that I'm just out of my mind"

The little boy let out a quiet, broken laughโ€”a sound full of gratitude and something else she couldnโ€™t name.

He grabbed his bag from under the bed. It wasnโ€™t much.

Next he swung into his wheelchair, already dressedโ€”socks mismatched, hoodie zipped halfway.

She noticed how neatly everything was packed, like heโ€™d already been waiting. Like part of him knew she would come back.

โ€œYou were ready,โ€ she said, eyeing him.

โ€œI believed youโ€™d comeโ€”" he said, voice low.

Nevena swallowed thickly โ€œYeah, but whyโ€ฆ Iโ€™m not exactly someone you would want to count on.โ€

Junior blinked up to her โ€œNo oneโ€™s ever proposed to be my friend beforeโ€”but you did,โ€

Nevena paused. That hit deeper than she expected.

โ€œMoreoverโ€”you assured me that you were different from everyone else.โ€ he added, quieter now.

Her mouth opened. Closed but she was completely speechless. She quietly moved to the back of his wheelchair, fingers finding the handles.

โ€œReady?โ€

He nodded, anxiety shutting down his larynxโ€”voice boxโ€”.

They slipped down the hallway like shadows stitched into the seams of night.

Past the empty common room, past the janitorโ€™s closet, down the stairwell corridor.

โ€œWe could actually use the Elevator?โ€

Junior suggested as Nevena paused, swaying him into her arms.

โ€œStairs,โ€ she said. โ€œCameras in the elevator. You think I didnโ€™t plan this?โ€

Junior didnโ€™t argue. He just leaned in on her and whispered, โ€œSorry for the trouble.โ€

Nevena nodded, her breath hitching with every step down the stairs.

Her body was giving out due to his weight and her sicknessโ€”but her heart, for once, was steady.

At the bottom, she carefully dropped him on the bench, pressing her back to the wall, and nearly slid to the floor.

Junior touched her arm gently. โ€œYou okay?โ€

โ€œNo,โ€ she admitted. โ€œBut I will just grab your wheelsโ€”weโ€™re almost out.โ€

She went up the flight again, carrying down his wheelchair and bag.

โ€œYou look like youโ€™re going to faintโ€”should we abort the mission?.โ€

โ€œI've already come too far,โ€ she grunted, helping him sit back on the wheelchair.

Together, they made it through the second floor dim hallwayโ€”past empty nurses' stations and sleeping patients.

Every sound felt amplified: the squeak of the wheelchair wheels, the groan of her breath, the click of the stairwell door.

Down the first floor corridor a silhouette loomed at the end of the corridor, cloaked in black attire.

โ€œWhere do you think you're taking him?โ€ the hoarse voice grunted โ€”familiar and terrifying.

โ€œBursted!โ€ Junior whispered, blinking up to Nevena , whose grip only tightened around his wheelchair handleโ€”teeth chattering.

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